Rooting the Pixel 2: Everything You Need to Know About Google’s New Androids

Earlier this week, Google announced the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Both phones are launching later this year. Both phones include latest version of Android Oreo out of the box, along with the flagship-level tech specs you’d expect from a high-end Android.

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about the Pixel 2 – like whether or not you can root it, how much it costs, and if it could be your next smartphone.

Tech Specs

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL run the latest version of Android Oreo out of the box.

The phone is powered with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and your choice of 64GB of 128GB of storage.

The smaller Pixel 2 has a 5-inch full HD AMOLED display, while the Pixel 2 XL has a 6-inch POLED QHD+ display.

Both Pixel 2s have OLED displays. The larger Pixel 2 XL, however, has an extra-widescreen 18:9 aspect ratio.

There’s No Headphone Jack

In 2016, Apple faced enormous criticism and ridicule across the internet for removing the headphone jack. Google clearly doesn’t see it as a big deal, as they’re removing the headphone jack in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Both of Google’s flagship smartphones will have a single USB-C port at the very bottom.

Fortunately, Google isn’t being quite as evil as Apple. All Pixel 2 purchases come with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle in the box – so this is a bit of a non-issue (there’s no $35 adapter required).

The Same Two-Toned Design is Back

One of the unique things about the original Pixel was the design. The phone had a unique two-tone design, with one color up top, near the camera, and another color dominating the lower two thirds of the device.

The same two-tone design is back on the Pixel. The top third of the phones features a shiny glass panel. That glass covers the rear camera. Meanwhile, the bottom two thirds features matte aluminum, with the rear fingerprint reader at the very top.

The front of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL look good: the big bezels have been significantly reduced, giving the phones a modern-looking front-facing display that fits in nice alongside the other 2017 flagships.

It’s Pretty Much Waterproof

Both versions of the Pixel 2 are IP67 water-resistant, which means they can survive complete immersion in 5 foot deep water for 30 minutes.

Phone manufacturers will never call this “waterproofing” – but let’s be honest, it’s close enough for most smartphone users.

It Still Has a Great Camera

The original Pixel made headlines for being the first flagship with a significantly better camera than Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL should offer a similarly amazing camera experience. Both phones have a single 12-megapixel camera in the back. There’s an f/1.8 aperture lens with optical image stabilization.

Our friends at DxO, who know more about cameras than virtually anyone else on the internet, have given the Pixel 2 a 98 overall rating, which sets a new record for overall smartphone camera quality (both the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL received a 98 rating).

Other New Features You Need to Know About

Other new features on the Pixel 2 include Bluetooth 5.0.

The phones also have dual front-facing speakers that provide surprisingly good audio. If you’ve been disappointed in the audio from single-speaker phones like the Galaxy S8, then the Pixel 2’s dual speaker design may be worth a look.

Another unique thing about the Pixel 2 XL specifically is that it comes with a built-in polarizer. The display has a polarizing layer. That means you can look at your phone with sunglasses on.

There’s also pressure sensitivity on both versions of the Pixel 2. The main way to use that is by simply squeezing the sides of the Pixel 2, which will open Google Assistant.

Pixel 2 Pricing

The Pixel 2 smartphones aren’t as expensive as other flagships on the market today. The Pixel 2 starts at $650, while the Pixel 2 XL starts at $850.

You’ll be able to buy unlocked versions of the phones from carriers and from retailers like Best Buy. Pre-orders opened in early October.

Pixel 2 Release Date

We don’t yet have an official release date for the Pixel 2. However, we should have a release date in the near future.

News

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